Condition: Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a systemic disorder that is classified into several types. The different types of systemic amyloidosis are sometimes classified as primary, secondary or familial (hereditary). Primary amyloidosis (also called AL) is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis. AL results from an abnormality (dyscrasia) of plasma cells in the bone marrow and is closely related to multiple myeloma. Secondary (AA) amyloidosis is derived from the inflammatory protein serum amyloid A. AA occurs in association with chronic inflammatory disease such as the rheumatic diseases, familial Mediterranean fever, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, tuberculosis or empyema. Familial amyloidosis is a rare type of amyloidosis that is caused by an abnormal gene. There are several abnormal genes that can cause hereditary amyloidosis, but the most common type of hereditary amyloidosis is called ATTR and caused by mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. Senile amyloidosis, in which the amyloid is derived from wild-type (normal) transthyretin, is a slowly progressive disease that affects the hearts of elderly men. Amyloid deposits may occasionally occur in isolation without evidence of a systemic disease; isolated bladder or tracheal amyloid are the most common such presentations.